Friday feature: Reed reaches career goal

Getting to 20 and 10 has been a career goal of Lake Township right-hander Jack Reed.

That’s as in 20 300 games and 10 800 series.

“When you get to my age, you just never know if you’re going to get another one,” said the 65-year-old AT&T retiree. “It’s been about three or four years since my last 800.”

The milestone was reached recently in the Friday morning Rossi Funeral Home Mixed league at Eastbury.

With his two Canton Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame sisters Bonny Reed-Bell and Becky Killion on his team, the Greater Canton Bowling Association Hall of Famer had games of 287, 278 and 238 for 803. His high career series is 837.

“I always said that I wanted to be at least 20 and 10 and I would be satisfied with that,” said Reed, who also bowls in the Tri-County and Ellsworth Auto Body-Budweiser senior traveling leagues with averages ranging from 205 to 212.

Reed opened with 287, running off the first 10 strikes before leaving a pocket 7-10 split on his 11th ball.

“I was carrying some light shots, but I came in about half pocket and left the 7-10,” Reed said, “so there went that game.”

In Game 2, he started with the first three strikes before leaving a 4-pin. He then got on another run before leaving a 10-pin on his final shot in the 10th.

Reed admitted there was luck involved, particularly with light pocket hits.

“I was carrying light shots and, I’ve always said, if they’re carrying, I’m not moving,” said Reed, who used a three-year-old Storm IQ Tour ball. “I think I moved one or two boards right all days and that was it. The ball was going long and carrying.”

In the final game, Reed left a 10-pin in the eighth frame and another in the 10th.

“I really didn’t know what I needed,” Reed said. “And I’m glad I didn’t because I probably would have screwed it up. But I thought when I left that 10-pin in the 10th, it was over.

“I’m glad I didn’t know since I needed to make that spare to get there.”

Reed had Tony Johnson redo all of his equipment prior to the season, getting only one new ball, a Motiv Forge.

“I used to bowl maybe one or two leagues a week with work, But now it’s up to three leagues and I’m doing a lot of subbing,” Reed said. “I got in with these seniors last year and they were always asking me to sub.

“I’ve been throwing it pretty well.”

Well enough to reach another career milestone.